Guided by its mission and strategic priorities, Wichita State continues to invest in areas of growth that create new opportunities for students, employers and the region.
Across the university, that growth is evident in health professions education, workforce-focused programming and applied learning opportunities.
The Wichita Biomedical Campus will create a collaborative environment for health sciences education, research and workforce development, while strengthening the pipeline of healthcare professionals for Kansas and the region.
At WSU South, Shocker Studios provides the hands-on learning environment for Wichita State’s growing School of Digital Arts, giving students real-world experience while working alongside industry partners. Continued growth in WSU Tech programs, including the expansion of the National Center for Aviation Training (NCAT), reflects the university’s commitment to innovative, career-focused education that meets evolving workforce needs. The NCAT expansion will increase entry-level, technical training capacity in aviation, advanced manufacturing, automation and emerging technologies while helping meet critical industry workforce demands.
With Wichita State’s programs continuing to evolve, so does the university’s approach to where and how those programs are delivered. The university’s master plan provides a framework for aligning facilities and resources with long-term priorities and future growth, taking into consideration how students want to receive education and newer technologic advances in course and program delivery that may not always be tied to a specific location.
As Wichita State continues to align its physical footprint with evolving academic, research and workforce priorities, including the development of the Wichita Biomedical Campus and the strategic use of space across its locations (including main campus, WSU South and WSU Tech locations), changes to several university facilities are necessary.
Wichita State has determined that the WSU West location is no longer needed to support course and program delivery and has decided to permanently close WSU West. This decision will not affect Shocker Academy, which will continue through its partnerships with area school districts.
Programs currently located at WSU Old Town will transition to the Wichita Biomedical Campus in 2027, where they will benefit from expanded opportunities for collaboration, innovation and interdisciplinary learning in health professions education.
Wichita State has supported WSU Old Town and WSU West employees affected by this transition and will continue to provide additional support as appropriate.
These decisions reflect Wichita State’s commitment to aligning its programs, resources and operations with the evolving needs of students, employers and the communities it serves while continuing to invest in areas that advance its mission and support future growth.
Dr. Monica Lounsbery
